Brokenhearts
Rank 15 (On Angie's Level)
Beware, all ye who talk 2 me
Posts: 4,934
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Post by Brokenhearts on Jul 12, 2006 18:08:15 GMT -5
She sat glaring at her meal like she was five years old and being forced to eat rice pudding again. She wasn’t that young, of course; she was sixteen, and it wasn’t rice pudding, it was but pork. She hated pork more than anything, but it wasn’t that which was making her glare. “Come, dear,” said her mother nervously, “eat up. It’s winter; you’ll get chills.” “I get them anyway,” she growled under her breath. “Bethany. . .” her mother warned her. She looked up, with an obviously fake smile plastered on her face. Nothing could have been more embarrassing. “Yes, Mother, dear.” Her mother silently cursed herself for letting her play with Jusin Hawthorn as a child. Though he was very well mannered and kind, he was like a big brother to her and taught her most of his beliefs about this new world around them. Being a young child at the time, she was easily influenced. This influence of the older boy carried through till her older years, and most porbabbly beyond. “Eat up,” she replied. “You don’t want to get ill.” “I detest pork,” Bethany declared with a flamboyant gesture, throwing her handkerchief on the floor and sitting back in her chair, still able to maintain herself as a lady. Thomas, the boy sitting opposite her, snorted and hide a grin. They had been adversaries since they could remember, but recently they had started talking and decided they made better friends than enemies. Their parents had other ideas. “Behaved, daughter,” her mother cautioned her yet again. Bethany glared at her, and stood up gracefully. If it were not for her burning brown eyes, the company at the dinner table would have thought she was going to ask to be excused to go to the bathroom or something of that sort. “I don’t wish to behave, Mum,” Bethany said calmly, and with the swish of cotton on cotton from her hand made dress, she stalked out of the room to hers own. That was the beginning of the end.
“BETHANY LAURA HELENA ROSEWOOD!” her father, John Rosewood, yelled up at her the next day. She was in her room, talking to Thomas. They were friends, but could never bring themselves to be anything more. never anything more. “I have nothing to say to you, Dad,” she responded simply, locking the door so no one could get in. “There is much more-” “ENOUNGH!” she screamed. She opened the door and hollered down the stairs, “IF YOU CAN’T HAVE ME MARRY SOMEONE I DO NOT WISH TO BE WITH!” “I can do what I want, dear lady,” John retorted. “With Mary, with Lucy, with my mother, you can. But not with me!” She slammed and bolted her door, and bolted it and stuck a chair under the knob. She flopped onto her bed and glared at the cieling. “Maybe being friends wasn’t the best option,” Thomas grinned at her, pushing her hair away from her face. Her eyes met his and she smiled happily. “Making friends with you, Thomas Battersy, was the best thing I could have done. I always felt bad about beating you senseless.” He laughed, lying next to her. “So you should.” They Their relationship was built soully on their trust with each other. They didn’t understand each other to begin with, and so they continued to fight and bicker. A year on, they were so close they often went swimming together in the river in the forest. More often than not, naked. Their trust in each other was complete. They knew each other’s secrets, passions, desires, hopes, dreams. They could talk never ending, though they still argued and snapped at each other often. How they showed their affection towards each other was seen as very unorthadox in the colony’s eyes. They walked in the street holding hands or with an arms around each other's waists. People often thought them to be lovers, and thus prompted their parents to arrange a marriage for them to stop any scandle. They did love each other, very deeply, and very wholly. However, it was very non-romantic, though no one else seemed to be able to see that, or understand it. Their friends could hardly believe that just two years previously they were at each other's throats, and Thomas was almost always black and blue from Bethany’s hard punches and kicks. She looked at him and turned on her side. He did the same so they were looking at each other in the face. “If my father walked in now,” she joked, “he’d demand why we do not wish to be married.” “That’s because he’s on ald nincompoop that cannot understand the meaning of friendships between members of the opposite sexes.” “He is my father.” “You know it’s true.” “Mmm…” she trailed off, and looked down. She took hold of his hand and examined the ring on his little finger. It was a woman’s ring. It was, a simple trinket. Gold with delicate designs. There was and a tiny ruby in the middle, small tiny little stone. But it was worth more to Thomas than anything else in the world. It had been his mother's. She sighed, sat up, and looked out her window. She gazed far beyond the walled in colony. Out across the forests, out across the and magesic mountains. The blue sky and white clouds. She didn’t smile as she watched their secretive, wanderous beauty. She frowned, and her eyes saddened. Hope inside her deaded. It was just outside her front door, but she couldn’t touch it, couldn’t feel it. It was beyond her. That freedom she longed to feel was far beyond her. “I wish I could help you,” Thomas murmured, sitting up with her, looking out, “but I can’t. The one thing you want most in this new world, and you can’t have it. And I can’t give it to you. No matter how much I want to.” “It’s fine,” she said, she ment it, he could see in her eyes she did, but she was lost. She wanted to get away from the prison of her home. Run free somewhere else. Just not there. “If I married you,” Thomas mused, quietly, “maybe then we could-” “No,” Bethany sighed and looked at him, “it wouldn’t work. If we get married we’d be under scrutiny. They’d expect a child from me within a year. Until then we’d have to stay here. After that, I’ll have to stay within the walls of this… colony.” “Is that code for prison?” he asked, gravely. “Colony, prison? What is the difference?” They laughed again. “Besides. I could never, and will never, stop you from being with the one you love.” “I love yo-” “This is different,” she cut him off. She looked out across the New world again. “I should have followed Justin when he asked me to come…” Thomas placed a hand on her head, stroking her hair. “Maybe.” It was late after noon before Thomas left Bethany to her thoughts. He was worried about her. Something was not right. An idea was stirring in her mind. And he didn’t like it. He wasn’t even sure if he trusted it. He looked up at her window as he left the house. She was looking out across the world yet again. She played with the ring Justin had given her before he left. It hung at a chain round her neck. Thomas could not get the feeling of dread from his mind. Some how he felt, that that would be the last time he ever saw her. Last time he ever saw her with the same dreams and aspirations. The next time he would see her was when she would have changed dramatically. He was right.
The next day, at supper time, another raging row broke out between John and Bethany. Her younger sister Lucy was engaged. There was fourteen months difference between them, and Lucy was to be married on the day she turned seventeen. Lucy seemed happy with it, and talked non stop about her to-be bride groom. Bethany could not stand it. She felt a little betrayed by her younger sister. Yet, she could not help feel happy for her at the same time. Lucy had always been the mother house wife child. Always wanting to help their mother out and loved looking after children. She was good at it too. It only served to show Bethany up. “Why can’t you be more like Lucy, darling,” complained Alice Rosewood (Bethany’s mother). “Because,” Bethany said, through gritted teeth, trying to swallow her pie, “me and Lucy have been different since birth.” “I know, dear,” Alice persisted, “but you could-” “Mum!” she started, using the term for her mother that Alice hated, “I will never be a good house wife! I shall never make a good mother! I do not wish to be like that! I have never seen that to be my path in life!” “Then what is your path,” thundered John. Bethany sighed, and looked into the distance. “To be free. To run wild. To be away from all this mayhem. To be-” “A savage,” John snapped. “If that’s what you wish to call freedom,” she replied calmly, “then so be it. I’d rather be a savage than a prisoner in a place should be called home.” “Do not defy your father, child,” Alice begged, knowing how wrathful John could be. A rebellious child was often hanged or used to show others what could happen to them if they refuse to do as they are told. “Why not?” Bethany demanded, “I was taught to follow my heart.” John’s hard eyes bore into Benthany’s free-spirited ones. “But not when you do not follow your elders. Do you not know that this could be translated as Witchcraft?!” Bethany tossed her head back, and stood up. Her chair knocked over. She threw her plate to the ground, food going everywhere. “Then I am a Witch!” she screamed, “spawn of Satan! I have no idea how witches caste spells, how to brew potions. But for the simple fact that I have a mind and a dream, I AM A WITCH!” She walked out of the dining room and went to her’s. Her father came thundering after her. He grabbed her wrist to stop her from moving. “How dare you,” he hissed in a low, angry whisper, “how dare you insult me in front of my own family.” “Am I not your family?” she asked. “I wish to have no connection with you any more-” “That feeling is mutual.” “But I must-” “No you don’t.” A blissful look crossed her face. She smiled at her father, catching John unawares. She had always been on the brink of ugly and unbelievably pretty. More often than not she tipped the scales to being beautiful. When she smiled, it was one of those times that made her look even more beautiful than ever. This because of her strong striking features. She pulled her slender pale wrist out of his grasp with a strength he did not know she possessed. With a fluid move ment she went to her room, and came out a few moments later with a tiny little bag of essentials, and she walked past him to grab her coat and shoes. All that time, it was all John could do to breath let alone move. “You have put up with me for too long, father,” she smiled again at him, “and I you. It is time I put a stop to it.” She pulled on her thick count and did it up tightly around her. She pulled on her winter boots. Under her coat she wore boys winter working clothes. It was as if she had prepared for it years in advance. In fact she had only decided on that path the moment her father told her he had to carry on putting up with her. “Good bye.” She gave him a quick fleeting smile, and walked out the door demurely.
It was snowing out side, but she really didn’t care. She didn’t know where she was going, or why she was going there. She literally just followed her feet. Or heart. Depending on how the person looked at it. However it wasn’t long before she became cold, and miserable. She had grown with a relatively good life, but she was no light weight. She always went out in winter, often not wearing very thick clothes, just so she would get used to it. Sp her stamina was much better. She had broken ice in the river, and gone swimming naked at times, just to prove something to herself. And she knew all the time she would be safe. Not because she was cocky that she could save herself. Or someone would come walking by just at the right time. She had always been very aware of the natives of the country. She had never spoken with them, or heard their language, or even their voices! But she knew they were there. She had seen them. When she had been out with her friends, or out with just Thomas alone. She had taught herself to be able to see them, when everyone else couldn’t. They began to notice that she could, and with the younger generation at least, and had almost turned into a game. But every time she could see them. She had a silent understanding with them. She looked out for them, they looked out for her. She even once managed to free one of their captive Natives, because she couldn’t bare to see her in chains. Though nothing was said between the two girls, with her eyes alone, the Native begged her to come with her. To be free. Bethany had shaken her head, eyes caste down, almost crying. She wanted to leave then so badly, but she couldn’t. She felt too held in place. Instead the Native girl hugged her, met her with a forceful gaze, that clearly ment ‘we shall meet again’ and ran off into the forest making a distinctly mocking bird noise. The understanding between Bethany and the Natives had grown stronger ever since. They understood the great risk she had put herself under so they could gain their daughter back. So even then, she knew she would not perish. That they would not let her. They’d take her some where safe. With signs and signals. The way they had always communicated. She just hoped it wasn’t back to her original Colony. She half hoped they’d take her with them. Not just then, obviously. It was late night when she collapsed in the snow, shivering, and all hope diminished from her small framed body. Why had they left her now?! When she needed their help most. Hate couldn’t stay in her heart. Her love for the Natives was too much. She loved them like she loved Thomas, because she felt their generosity in letting her people share their lands. That they helped, and looked after the white people. She reasoned that they had gone to some summer settlement, and that they couldn’t possibly have known what she was going to do. She sighed deeply and curled up, squeezing her autumn coloured eyes shut tight. She fell in and out of a hypothermic sleep. Feeling at one point fur surrounding her, making her warmer. She clutched onto it, and fell back into that sickly slumber. At another shouts and yells all around her. Then all was black. “Wake up child!” an urgent voice called in her ear finally, “wake up! You shall die if you don’t! WAKE UP!” “How do you not know she’s a witch?” hissed a sceptical voice. “Because she has come prepared,” snapped the same voice who had tried rousing her, “because she is dressed in the clothes of a merchant’s daughter. This girl is not a witch. She is a run away, that is all.” “I’m not a child,” she grumbled through blue icy lips, pulling her limbs into her, “I’m sixteen, and I’m no witch. Not to my knowledge anyway.” Bethany had always been sceptical on white views of witchcraft. She had always seen it as a gift from God to be able to heal, and make potions to help people. These so-called curses she had seen as people who were afraid or didn’t like the ‘witch’ using their powers against them. “She’s alive!” exclaimed the compassionate voice, “thank God! Don’t talk,” he picked her up, wrapping his cloak around her trying to make her warm up, “you’ll loose more energy.” “Bah,” grumbled the second voice, “you trust these savages way to much.” “Shut up grandfather!” he snapped, tiredly, “if I hadn’t heard their calls, she would have died.” They started walking again, wading through the snow as though wading through water. “I wish you would let me buy their snow shoes. They would work really well in this weather.” Bethany slowly lost consciousness again. This time feeling safe and much more comfortable. Much more safe. Before she passed out completely she looked out across the forest. She caught the sight of some shadows in the trees. A smile fluttered across her face. Her friends had come through for her again.
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Brokenhearts
Rank 15 (On Angie's Level)
Beware, all ye who talk 2 me
Posts: 4,934
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Post by Brokenhearts on Jul 12, 2006 18:08:56 GMT -5
The compassionate man was Gerard Goodall, nineteen years old and the head of his family since his father died. He had been out trying to clear his head, with his grandfather. He and his grandfather were close, despite their severe differences. They talked when ever Gerard felt his world being torn apart. He had told Jonah Goodall, his grandfather, to hush when he heard the cries of the Natives. He didn’t understand their cries fully, but he knew he had to follow them. Something was in danger- that was all he could make out. With only a small gun and small dagger as weapons, and ran out into the snow, as light footed as he could manage. Jonah followed cursing, wandering what was wrong with youngsters nowadays. Haring off at the slight sound of adventure. Gerard suppressed a laugh and followed the quick shadows he could only just see, and he knew because they wanted him to see. When he came across the small form of the girl, he though she had been alot younger- and dead. As he carried her back home, he could see she was at least, as she claimed, sixteen, and very beautiful at that. But not the beautiful that struck you immediately. It was just there, and it grew on you. She was so pale though, and her lips so pure blue, he was scared she wouldn’t make it through the night! He carried her into their living room, awakening his mother. Daisy Goodall, looked over the girl and tutted darkly under her breathe. She rushed up the stairs and enlisted the help of her other son and oldest and only daughter. While Gerard stayed and tended to the poor strange girl, his brother went for more fire wood, and his sister set up a bed for her in the living room. Daisy was large and and built like a farmers wife. She was as strong as a farmer too. She has pink rosy cheeks, and a kindly face that took in everyone who needed help. She was a kindly soul, and loved everyone for no rhyme or reason. She saw the stranger in her house as a message from God- ‘look after her’. She didn’t know why, but she felt that this girl would grow up to be something important. Though what, she would not find out. James, Gerard’s brother, and Ella, his sister, stayed with the girl through out the night. They were curious, and felt a certain protectiveness over her for helping her through her most hardest of times. Though they stayed out of the way and let Gerard stay closest, holding her hand, begging her to come back, and be fine. She should not have fallen asleep. Excruciatingly slowly, the colour came back to her face. Her blue lips started to thaw, and become soft and pink again. Her too pale cheek flushed with colour. Slowly, like a blooming rose. Her black hair that framed her cheeks no longer made her look as though she was on deaths door, more like she as an elegant courtier come straight out of the past. A few hours after dawn broke, the last of Gerard’s four siblings came down (Fredrick and Ryan), she woke. She sat up, eyes open wide like a startled fawn. She sat up, and gasped looking round. She clutched the blanket round her, feeling that she was only in her under garments (which had thankfully not been wet). “Where am I?” she breathe hoarsely. Gerard looked up. Immeasurable relief and happiness broke out on his face. He could have hugged her if she didn’t look so scared of him. “You’re safe,” he told her sincerely. She shook her head. “Where is safe?” she asked. “You’re a Colony,” he told her, “in my house. My name is Gerard Goodall. Me and my grandfather found you last night. I don’t know where you came from, but this has to be the closest colony for miles around!” Bethany frowned, biting down on her lip. Had she travelled so far? Some how she doubted it. “Who are you?” he asked, “what were you doing? You could have died.” The last was a calm statement. Just accept the facts, and hoping she would too. “My name is Bethany…” she stopped, and paused. She she tell them her last name? She didn’t want to go back. What if they sent he back. They took her quiet for contemplation. Daisy swooped down next to her, and put a strong mother arm around her. “Can’t you remember dear?” she questioned her gently. Bethany looked at her kind face. She had to be master Goodall’s mother. She was too young to be his grandmother, and too old to be his wife. Besides, there were too many similarities between mother and son for them not to be. She shook her head, looking down, shame faced. “No,” she murmured, as if close to tears. She was close to tears but not in the manner that they thought. “I only know that my name is Bethany…” “Do you not know anything of your past?” perused Gerard. His mother cast him a warning look, but looked towards Bethany as she started speaking again. Her eyes firmly on the fire in front of her. Like it pained her to talk of her past. “I do, master Goodall,” she sighed, “all too well. I do not wish to remember, but it is the only thing about me I remember clearly. Even my name is a stab in the dark. It feels right… but…” she shrugged. “Can…” he started again, much more carefully this time, “could you tell us why you ran away?” A sob caught in her throat. ‘The truth,’ she thought, ‘just not the whole truth.’ “I was to be forced into a marriage,” she told them, “and I couldn’t bare it. I hated the man. He was abusive, and hit his now dead wife! I couldn’t bare to be in the same position! I had been in love, but he left. He promised to return, but he died of smallpox on the way back home.” It was only partly true. She did have a sweet heart at one point, who had promised such a thing. He had died of smallpox, just by the sea, and it had been the year before. “And I couldn’t…” she swallowed hard, the tears in remembrance of the love that she had lost choking her again. And the indigence of what her father had said to her cause her to cry again. “I just could-” she broke off, into unstoppable tears. Her whole body racked with sobs, and curses. Daisy took the poor girl into her arms and held her. Rocking with her, calming her down. She sent all five of her children out. Her eldest however was refusing to leave. He glared at his mother obstinately. He had rescued the girl, he felt it to be his job- his duty to look after her. She sighed heavily. She could see the seeds of a blossoming love already planted in her son’s heart for the nameless stranger. He could not see it like that. And probably would not until it was too late. She just hoped the girl didn’t unwittingly hurt him. Or him her. Plainly the hurt of her dead lover still pained her greatly. Eventually Bethany managed to control her sobs, and dried her tears. Daisy, made her look at her. “Bethany honey,” she told her, “you don’t have to be so strong. You can cry.” “I’ve cried enough, mother Goodall,” she replied, wiping away her tears again, “Samuel wouldn’t want me to waste my life over him forever. His last words to me in his letter were ‘stay free Beth, stay happy’.” A sad smile stayed on her face. “That’s why I think my name is Bethany.” “He must have loved you dearly.” Bethany thought about it. She nodded. “He did, mother Goodall, he always will.” Then it was as if fear gripped her. She took hold of Daisy’s hand, and looked up into her eyes, boring deep into them. Her fear plain in those ever changing autumn eyes. “Don’t send me back!” she begged, “I’m begging! I’d die. If he didn’t kill me, I’d kill my self! I can’t go back. Please mother Goodall! Please!” Daisy chuckled, and held the girl tightly, hugging her. “I could never do that to you, child. It’s wrong. I’m sorry to say, but who ever your father was- he must have been reading the word of the Lord entirely upside down to push his daughter into such a fate.” Bethany gave another of her small sad smiles, looking down cast at the floor. “I’m ashamed to say, yes he was.” She looked up startled. “Please don’t think bad of me! But it is only the truth. He could be so good and kind to me,” she went off into thought, really remembering the good times she had with him. Saying good bye to them. “But he changed as I grew… He only ever wanted the best for. I just believe he was lead astray. I pray that he is lead back on the straight path. For the sake of my mother and sister.” Sister, never sisters. If they had tried to track down her family, if they didn’t know the amount in the family, then it would be much harder. “Think of the good times Bethany, my girl, and say good bye.” Bethany looked up startled. “You have a good heart, and a good mind. If you wish, you may stay with me and my family, as my daughter if you wish.” Bethany’s face broke out into the largest smile ever. She threw her arms round Daisy’s neck. She forgot that Gerard was there, and could see her underwear (though he turned away respectfully), and just hugged the woman like she had never been able to hug her own angular mother. “Thank you so much mother Goodall!” she exclaimed, sitting back slightly, letting Daisy take hold of her hands. “Enough with the mother Goodall, daughter,” she smiled, “mother will do.” “Yes, mother,” she said, shyly. Though having only known each other a very short time, Daisy felt she could trust this abandoned emotional girl as her own. Bethany felt she had a home- at last. Over the winter months Bethany became known as Daisy’s niece. They didn’t discourage the romours, but people seemed thrown when ever she called Daisy mother rather than aunt. Other romours started flying instead. The most believed one was that Bethany had been born a half wit to a distant relative of Daisy. Daisy offered to look after her out of the goodness of her heart. Then one night, Gerard took Bethany to meet the ‘savages’. They took pity on her and their medicine man cast the demon from her body that caused her alement. There had been another romour, that Bethany was Daisy’s illigitement child come to find her mother again. Because her father was abusive. However, some of the girls in the village noticed the way Gerard looked at her. It was obviously not the look of an older brother. She fitted into the family like a missing piece finally found again. It took some time for the youngest, Ryan, to get used to her. But after some time he learned how much fun she could be. She loved playing hide and seek with him. Playing chasey. Having a go with his make believe games, where she was the beautiful princess he had to rescue. She would read him and his older brother, Fredrick, bed time stories. Some she made up on the spot. Others she read from well known books. If they were lucky, she would tell them stories she had heard from the Native she rescued. Though she had never heard their language, that Native spoke English, and Bethany spent as much time as she could with her. So it would seem weird if she suddenly decided to go see her. They often spoke together about what they wanted to do, and the Native was fully aware of what Bethany planned to do for her. Ella was hard to reach too. She had been so used to being the only girl in a family of men and boys. When she finally opened up to Bethany, they got on really well. They could talk about anything, and they did. She found out a little of Bethany’s friends, even the one who had offered to marry her so she wouldn’t have to marry the tyrant. “I loved him,” she sighed, “just not in that way. I couldn’t stand waking up in the same bed as him. Not like that.” “You didn’t want him to see you naked?” She laughed gaily. “He’’s seen me like that Ella!” she exclaimed, Ella gasped, hand over her mouth. Shaking her head, murmuring it was not right. Bethany caught her hands. “Have your brothers seen you naked?” “Yes of coarse. They’ve had to sometimes.” “So why is it so strange that Thomas has seen me? He is my brother, Ella. Maybe not by birth, but every other right he is my brother.” Ella didn’t even need to think about it. She smiled back, and understood what she was saying perfectly. She and James got on well too, discussing work they had done, and debating on what ever they disagreed on, or even agreed on. Bethany was always listening when she wasn’t ment to. It helped her arguements, and always left James dumbfounded. It only ever increased their friendship bonds, and people always thought them to be brother and sister when ever they were seen together. When Bethany was with Gerard however, it got a little more complecated. She wasn not shy of him by any means. She laughed and joked with him as she would with any other man or woman. She didn’t see that they should be a difference. She hugged him easily, and argued him as she argued with James. Though she would often just sit with him long after dinner, staring into the fire, just thinking. His head in her lap, her playing with his longish hair. People occasionally saw this, and thought them to be in love. It was mostly that he was. But Bethany wasn’t ready to be in love yet. She was not yet seventeen, and he would be twenty at the start of spring. He still made no secret of how he felt. Though she missed many of the clues, she had some idea. Spring came,, melting the snow, letting people out of their houses. People started going back to their old ways of the year before. Planting, setting up shop more perminantly. The Goodall family were farmers. Though Gerard seemed more built to be a hunter or a soldier rather than a farmer, he made short work of it. Looking after the animals with Jonah Goodall and James. They had some hired help too, but it was mostly vollenteered by kids. Ella and Bethany were given two jobs. Look after the boys, and sewing. Though it was mostly mending clothes, they were occasionally given something to embroid. At first Ella took it mostly, though she hated embroiding. Then it was descovered that Bethany was quite good at sewing and was given that job more often. Ella was extremely grateful. Daisy watched all this with a mother’s eyes, and a mothers love, for all her children. She loved them all eaqually, even Bethany. Bethany was special to her, because she was given to her from God, and it was Gerard that saved her. One night she watched them all talking to each other. Ella had started debating with James too, with Bethany’s lead. She hadn’t before, because she had been worried people would not think it to be lady like. On seeing that her sister didn’t care, she did not either. Fredrick and Ryan had started fighting again, and Bethany intervened with an expert hand and a brib. “If you two don’t hush it now,” she warned, “I sharn’t finish that Great Eagle legdand.” The two children paled. “You wouldn’t,” breathed Fredrick, “you wouldn’t be so mean.” She grinned wickedly. “I can be very mean. To make peace, and we’ll pertend none of this happened.” The two youngest brothers looked at each other, then grinned, and went back to eating. She was very good with children. Daisy looked over at Gerard. He had barely touched his food, and his dark eyes were firmly watching Bethany. Jonah had seen this two, and looked from one to the other, because Bethany had not noticed. She was arguing with James, with rather than against for once. He cracked a rarre smile, and carried on eating. Jonah was a suspisious old man, and was often worried about witches. He had thought Bethany had been a witch for a good while. When he started talking to her, letting her join in some of the hunts, or look for some of the herbs, he found that she was no witch. Just a little girl who took heed of her grandmother’s words as a child. Jonah had started caring for the girl too. He just thought it ashame that she had failed to see the obvious. One night as they neared the summer months, Bethany was attacked by a recurring nightmare for the seventh time that month. She was running through the forest. She started by wearing the high heels of a lady, with fine silk clothes. Her hair was piled on top of her head with an inticated design. Tears were pouring down her face as she ran through the forest, her skirts gathered up in her arms. It was summer, but she felt incredibly cold. Slowly her clothes and shoes changed as she ran. Her clothes turned into the soft materiel dresses that the female natives wore. Short, to about her knees, letting her run more freely. The materiel was soft, and let her arms be free. She ran, with out needing to hold onto her skirts. On her feet were the materiel shoes that they all wore. They were flat and protected her feet better than any other shoes had ever worn. Her hair was shaken free of the pile on her head, and streamed out behind her. She could feel some beads woven into it, and a leather band round her forehead. She could feel some kind of paint on her cheek. She was no longer crying, but was incredibly happy. She danced as she ran. Turning cartwheels, backflips. Calling out to her Native friends, happy as she could ever be. She saw three people stand in front of her. She smiled, her dream self recognising them. The Native girl she saved, Justin Hawthorn, and another little girl, holding onto Justin’s hand. Then everything became dark. They started running away from her, screaming. She looked behind her, and she joined them. The white men were following them, they were armed with muskets, rifles, and branches of fire. She couldn’t out run them. She woke up, drenched in sweat, and her face tear sreacked. Her head thumping hard in her chest. She calmed her sobbing down herself, not wanting to wake Ella, who had been having a bad day as it was. She crept out of bed, and down the stairs, making no noise what so ever. She had always been good at being able to conceal herself, and making no noise. People sometimes mistook her for a Native when she greeted them in the forest. She reached the living room, and saw the fire was still going. They kept it gong through the spring, as spring was very unpredictable. Though it never snowed, tempuratures sometimes were very cold. Especially at night. She sighed and sat down, very close to it. She let her hands wander through the flames, confident they wouldn’t hurt her. “Oh sorry,” said a very familliar voice, as she heard the stairs creak behind her. She turned her head just slightly to see the out line of Gerard half way down the stairs. “I didn’t know anyone was down here.” “It’s all right,” she smiled, looking to the fire again, “stay,” she added as he made to go back up the stairs. “You sure?” “As ever, Master Goodall,” she grinned, knowing he hated it when shhe called him that. He alwasy insisted on Gerard. He told her he felt old when someone called him mater. “You are so cruel, Beth,” he sighed, sitting on the chair she was closest too, “you insist on teasing me.” She tossed her hair back, over her shoulder. “As ever, Gerard, you know so well.” He shook head sadly, his hair falling into his face. “No Beth,” he replied, “no one knows you. We just try to keep up.” She looked at him, her head titled to one side. “I am really such a mystery to you all?” she asked. “Of coarse!” he exclaimed, “your past eludes us all, even to your self- part of it anyway. Your name too. No one knows what you wish to do. No one knows happens in your mind. Many girls are predictable about what they want.” “We are not,” she protested, “we only do as our fathers, and most often mothers too, want us to do. And Ella is by no means predictable.” “She has your influence.” Bethany smiled a little, in consideration. Yes, Ella had changed since she arrived. She had always had more confidence than a woman needed. It had only been magnified to see another woman like her. She just need prompting. “Your dreams and aspiriations too…” he was hinting at something, he just wasn’t sure what. Neither was she. “Many girls have the same. But you… you never speak of them.” “Because they are too big,” she replied, quietly, looking deep into the flames. He watched her autumn coloured eyes. The fire that was within them were not relecting what was in front of her. It was too fierce, too emotional. That fire in her eyes was her own. It was her soul. “What are they?” he asked gently. “To be free,” she murmurered, it had been months since she had uttered those words, “to run wild in the forest. To not have to be wedded off to a man. To not have expectations to follow me.” She turned to look at him. She was sat cross legged on the floor, and she looked up at him. She looked deep into his eyes, so he could understand her. Understand what she was trying to say to him. “Is that too much to ask?” she demanded in a quiet voice, “to be my own person.” She took his hands in her own, and pressed them to her heart. “Feel my heart beating Gerard, it can’t stay caged up. I can’t! I have to be free.” He stared right into her eyes. His brown almost feeding off the fire in her’s. “It’s too difficult, Beth,” he sounded fustrated, like he wanted the same for her. “You think I don’t know that?” she asked him, looking away, “it’s just within my grasp. But it’s just out of reach. I can’t stand it!” She sighed and looked down, her black hair obscuring her strangely beautiful face. “I wish I could help.” “But you cannot. I know that.” She looked up at him suddenly, and threw her arms round his neck, and hugged him tightly. “But you listened to the Natives. You came and you rescued me. You gave me a second chance at life when I would have died. You welcomed me into a home that I could never have had at back with my blood family. You are my saviour.” He went red. “Any one would have done it.” “Not every one has the brains to trust the Natives. And you do. You looked after me, Gerard,” she pulled away from him, and looked at his kind face, “you helped me enough.” She got up and walked back to her room again. Gerard was left to his own muddled thoughts. The answer was not that of a sixteen year old girl on the verge of womanhood. She was old enough to marry. Her words were of someone much older. He didn’t want to keep her in his house when she wanted to be free. But she could leave at any moment. She knew she couldn’t though. There would be no one to look after her. She could die, or be killed by unfriendly Natives. Still, she couldn’t help what she wanted. He swollowed hard and walked back to his room.
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Brokenhearts
Rank 15 (On Angie's Level)
Beware, all ye who talk 2 me
Posts: 4,934
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Post by Brokenhearts on Jul 12, 2006 18:10:08 GMT -5
Summer came and the work really started to happen then. The babes of the spring had to be watched so they didn’t break anything. They had to watch their corn and weat and other such fields. Traders came quite often. The sold, baught and traded what ever they could. Most had families amoungest the people, and brought news from across the new world. Bethany avoided the traders as much as she could. In case they recognised her, and asked her what she was doing in a different coleny. Of maybe even her father sent word to look for her. But it was unavoidable. Ella had fallen for a tarder’s son, who was looking to stay in the coleny, and she needed any excuse to go and visit him. She was often dragged along laughing. Then she would drag Ella back in hystarics. Partly because she found the whole situation very cute. And partly because she remembered how she had been with her sweetheart. How similar it had been. The man that Ella had fallen for, and who had fallen for Ella, caught hold of Bethany one day, begging her to take a note for her. It was half way through the summer, and his band of traders had been there since late spring. It had been three months since he had started courting Ella. “Please Beth! You’re her sister!” Bethany raised an eye brow. Everyone in the coleny called her Beth by then, but never Ella. She thought Bethany was too much of a beautiful name to be shortened. “Since when did you call me Beth?” “Since I couldn’t be bothered to say Bethany,” he grinned, “please!” he added, begging. “I’m in love! I can’t live with out her! Give it to her!” “Is it a proposal?” asked Beth, sceptically. “It’s warning her that I’m going to ask her brother and mother tonight. I’ve proposed to her already.” Something caught in Bethany’s throat. Her eyes widened with fear. “What if they say no?” she asked in a hushed whisper, catching hold of his hand. “Then we elope,” he said confidently, “I can’t live with out, so I won’t. If they say yes, we marry and stay here. If they say no, we leave tonight.” Bethany nodded, tightly. Then hugged him tightly. “Welcome to the family, brother,” she told him, and let go smiling. “I just hope this is not our last meeting. I care for Ella dearly, and I will be deeply saddened to see her go.” “But you will let her?” She nodded, enthusiastically. “I want her to be happy more than anything.” He smiled, and pressed the paper into her hand. “Welcome to me family, sister,” he said simply, and walked away. Bethany hurried home, and found Ella in her room alone, sitting on her head, thinking. She had her hand on her stomach lightly, and she was staring at something on her finger. “Ella,” she said quietly. Ella jumped and hide the ring cumsily. “Bethany!” she gasped, “you scared me!” Bethany chuckled, and came and joined her on her bed. “I met my new brother today.” “You what- you mean Matthew?” she asked, refuring to her future husband. As Bethany nodded, she went bright red, and stared at the floor. “What did he say?” “That he’s going to ask Gerard and mother tonight for your hand.” “Finaly,” she breathed, then looked up at her sister. “You know we have been courting since we were sixteen?” Bethany shook her head. “He declared his loved for me two years ago,” she told her, “and then he told me this time that he planned to make a family with me. And he was finally going to ask my family” She turned on her bed to face Bethany, and took her hands in hers firmly. “Do you approve, Bethany? Do you like him?” “Does it matter if I do or not?” “Of coarse it does! You are my sister! It always will.” “I have only been your sister since winter.” Ella smiled shaking her head. “That’s as long as we have known we are sisters. We have been sisters since birth. I’ve felt it. You were taken from us. You are my sister, Bethany, no matter what.” Bethany smiled and hugged Ella as tightly as she dared. She had a suspision about her, that she would tell her of later. “I like him,” she admitted, “he is a good man, and I believe will treat you well.” Her eyes darkened. “If he does not, I will not rest until something is done about him.” Ella laughed happily. “You are so loyal Bethany. You shall make a good wife someday.” Bethany stiffened. She had no wish to play wife any time soon. She liked the limited freedom she had. And who would she marry? She could not think of anyone who would put up with her wild heart and free spirit. “Some how I doubt that,” she sighed, “good luck tonight, Ella. I hope Gerard agrees.” “Could you be there too?” asked Ella, quietly, “Gerard trusts your judgement on matters, he listens to you.” “Yes, and because of that people think that we are wedded.” Ella gave her a sly smile. Bethany raised her eye brows in retern, and went left Ella alone to her thoughts. She went out instead to help Daisy in her herb garden. Daisy grew many herbs and would often trade with the Native medicine man, as she understood their ways and respected them. That day the medicine man came to talk with Daisy, and had brought along a translator as he always did. Daisy kept Bethany under close eye, as Bethany came to speak with the Medicine man. “May I ask you to take a message for your people?” she asked the traslator, shyly. He started to relay the message to the medicine man, but Bethany shook her head, in shock. “No!” she gasped, “no! I cannot ask him! I ask you… what is your name?” He gave her a cocky grin. “They call me Black Lynx,” he smiled, “miss Bethany.” She frowned at him, then shrugged. “Could you tell your people that I give thanks for them saveing my life.” It was his turn to frown. Never had a white person thanked a Native so whole heartedly. And most often, they never knew of their help. “You must be mistaken-” he was cut off by her shaking her head. “I recognise you, it is you.” “It cannot be,” he responded simply, though an understanding smile broke out on his face, “we are away for the winter.” ‘I never said anything about winter,’ she mused in her mind, understanding the grin on his face. She graced her neck, and turned to the medicine man, and held out some tabacco. A shy smile covered her face. “For give me for being rude,” she stammered in his language, from what she had gathered from hearing Natives speak for the past few months, “I forgot… I forgot what I had come… to… to really do.” She bit her lip hoping her pronounciation was all right, and ok to understand. The old man, with his silver hair in two plats on either side of his chest. His face worn with age, war, and expression, lined with a million memories. His clothes of thin materiel. And the air of a demi god, looked at her down caste face and eyes, and reached out to touch her. He chucked her under her chin, and brought her face up to meet his brown eyes. As their gazes locked, and he penerated through her fire like eyes. He smiled at her. As a grandfather would smile at his favourite granddaughter. She found herself smiling back, resisting the urge to hug him with the familliarity she felt for him in her heart. He mururmered a word, then nodded to Black Lynx to follow. “Black Lynx!” she called. He stopped and turned to look at her. “What did he say?” “Your name,” he replied, and followed the old man away into the forest. “My name?” she wandered to herself, as she watched them in the trees. She could still see them clearly. She saw Black Lynx turn, as if feeling her eyes. He appeared shocked that she could still see them. He waved and ran off, with the old man. Bethany grinned to herself and turned to talk with and help Daisy. Daisy was shaking her head. “What?” she asked, incredulously, “I have done them no rudeness?!” “I know child. You have been the picture of polite and innocence.” Still she shook her head and looked worried. “Please mother,” she pleaded, “I’m worrying too now!” She caught hold of Daisy’s arm, and refused to let go. “What is it that I have done wrong?” Daisy sighed and looked into the ever chaging eyes of her adopted daughter. She could not refuse Bethany any answers she pleaded for. She cared for her too much. She had run away from one home, what would stop her from running away from her new one. She wasn not sure if she could bare it if she ran away from her. “People talk, Bethany,” she murmured, softly, “if they have seen you talking with the indians… if they have seen you comunicating with them, and sneaking off into the forest- what would stop them from thinking you are in league with them. As a witch? As one of the powowws?” She shrugged simply. “Nothing. But I do not care. It was the Natives that saved me that night. They took Gerard to me, they made sure nothing bad happened to me. I do not mind being thought to be in league with them. It is true.” She reached up on tip toe, and kissed Daisy’s cheek, not letting go of her arm. “Do not fuss so much, mother,” she smiled, “we have problems closer to home that needs fussing over.” Daisy was confused, and made no attempts to hide it. Bethany merely smiled knowingly in return, and went back to tending the herbs with a gardeners touch and ease. Daisy shook her head and sighed. The girl had much more of an idea of what was going on within the refines of the coleny and out that she would ever have. Because she was so brave, and enjoyed evesdropping and the danger involved. She would find out of an attack before the ealders of the village, she listened so closely.
That evening before the women of the house prepared the home for dinner, or even dinner it’s self, there was a knock at the door. Gerard went to answer it. He came back looking grave and almost haunting. “Everyone up stairs,” he said, “this is important.” Matthew followed him in, looking pale and scared. He had always been scared of Gerard. None more obvious than now. He met Ella’s eyes, and he seem to take comfort in it, and strangth. Colour returned to his pale cheeks, and his stance strong and desicive. Bethany smiled to see it. She turned to go as well. Though she knew Ella wanted her to stay, it would only be Daisy or Gerard able to ask her to stay. Unless she snuck back. “Beth,” called Gerard, she turned round, and met his gaze squarely, “you must stay. I must speak with you.” She bowed her head gracefully, become polite to him like she wouldn’t be normally as she saw Matthew’s father come in. He looked at Bethany with a strange angry glint in his eyes. She didn’t like it. By the way Gerard looked at him, it was clear he didn’t trust him either. She came forewards, and Gerard took her hand, and lead them all into the living area, by the fire to be able to talk more comfortably. Bethany was say between Daisy and Gerard, Gerard refusing to let go of her hand. He was scared, squeesing her hand so tightly his knuckles went white, and she started to loose the circulation. She gritted her teeth and said nothing. “Master Goodall,” began Matthew, taking a deep breath. “Call me Gerard, Matthew,” he smiled casually, “you have done in the past- why make such changes now?” Matthew smiled in return. His friendship with Gerard made this propesition easier. However, did did not stop him from being so scared. It only made him more aware of Gerard’s temper if he ever lost it. Bethany knew from expiriance that Gerard was one to be feared if he became angry. Matthew had the right to be afraid. “Thank you, Gerard.” He nodded his head cuurtly. “As you know I have been seeing your sister for the past…” he trailed off thinking. “Two years,” supplied Daisy, smiling in the memory of nearly sixteen year old Ella running back home, her face flushed with a hot blush and faigue from her run home. Her hand to her cheek where seventeen year old Matthew had kissed her. When asked what was wrong, she looked up startled and shook her head violantly- denying everything. Daisy remembered it like it was yesterday. It was hard to believe what was happening already. “Yes,” agreed Matthew, “two years.” He bit his lip, plainly remembering all the times he had had with sweet Ella, up till the presant day. Bethany could see, he really loved Ella with all his heart and soul. She envied the older girl to have some one so close to her heart. “So I believe now is the right time,” he took a deep breath before continueing, closing his eyes, mentally preparing himself, “to ask for your consent, of our marriage.” That clinched it with Gerard. He swollowed hard, let go of Bethany’s hand and walked out of the room, leaving everybody mystified for what was wrong with him. Matthew’s face became consumed with worry. Daisy too, she made to follow him. Bethany put her hand on her arm gently, and murmured softly that she would go and talk to him. Daisy nodded, knowing the two had a connection, and got on well. Better than either let on. It would be Bethany that Gerard would listen to with a clear mind. He trusted her boyond any understanding, to her or anyone else. Just before she walked out, Matthew caught her eye. His eyes begged her to make Gerard see it his way. She smiled reassuringly, and walked out of the room, and out into the garden. Gerard leaned against the house, looking up at the stars. Watching them twinkling down at him, helping him think. The warm night air rusled his soft hair, cooling his skin and calming his soul. He couldn’t believe his sister… his sister! His baby sister whom he looked after as a child and through childhood. Showing her how to swim, climb trees, hunt for eggs and find rabbit holes. Whom he play hide and seek, and ran wild with in the forest. He remembered how the laughed, joking together, teasing each other. How they cried, and fought. Maybe best of all, how and when they made up again, when she kissed his cheek, and they hugged each other, saying they were sorry. He remembered how it was them that pulled their family out of the depths of their misery when their father died the year before. He remembered how she had taken over the role of mother in the house, until Daisy regained herself. Even then, it was Ella that seemed like a mother, caring for their baby brothers. Gerard took over role of father and protecter, and kept it throughout. He knew, though, that without Ella, it could never have worked. Ella who he helped. Who he looked after, played with, fought with, made up with. Ella whom he loved and cared for. Ella… Ella who was grown up, a woman, a sister, a friend, a lover… and now… “A wife?!” he whispered to himself, “a mother?!” He hung his head, burrying his face in his hands. He wanted his sister to be happy and have everything. Yet some how, he couldn’t see her as a wife or mother, or even an aunt at this stage. She was still little Elly belly to him. A light hand touched his shoulder, waking him from his reviere. He looked up into the firey eyes of Bethany mysteries, as he thought of her. “It is hard, Gerard,” she told him softly, “I know it is.” “How can you?” he asked, his bright eyes skywards again, “you left before your sister became engaged.” “Is Ella not my sister?” she replied softly, “was she not one who cared for me at my darkest hour? Have I not spent hours with her, talking about- just talking? Have I not become to know her as a friend as well as sister?” Gerard looked at her again, frowning. He never understood the conection that stood between the two girls. He knew it was there, he just did not know or maybe understand how deep it ran. As he looked at her, he noticed her eyes had become glossy with feelings. Her eyes swam in the tears that had formed. They seemed to almost doust the fire that brewed within them all year round. She kept looking away, towards the sky, as a person would, if they were to try and stop them from falling. She could was no longer looking at him. He never realised what a separation from Ella would do to Bethany. They had known each other less than a year, they were how ever sisters in a deeper way that Gerard knew. “She is,” he sighed heavily. “We must let her!” insisted Bethany, her voice cracking at the end of every word, “she must be allowed to do as she wishes. She loves Matthew. She loves him dearly! We cannot deny her her happiness for the sake of ours. She deserves it more than us. For what she has done for the family.” “But she is young, Beth,” he pleaded, catching up her hands in his, bringing her close, begging her to see it his way, “what if this is but… infatuation! Ella would be heart broken! She would be-” “She is with a child,” Bethany interrupted smoothly. “What…” his voice was quiet, and skrill with shock. His brown eyes widened with shock and fear. “Do not pertend you have not noticed,” she gave a half hearted laugh, “the bigger clothing, the long thoughts with her hand on her abdomine. She is with a child, Gerard,” here she smiled brightly, happily, like it was the best thing to have happened in the world, “and it is Matthew’s.” “She is with a child?” he whispered, unable to believe. She nodded with a force in return. “She is carrying your niece or nefew- our” she corrected herself, “niece or nefew!” “Really?” he breathed. Fear sparked in her eyes. “Don’t be angry,” she begged, “they’re in love! It’s the right thing to do when you’re in love.” A happy bright, sunny smile broke out on his face. He threw his arms round Bethany’s waist, and hugged her, picking her up and twirling her round. His laugh broke through the silence of the night, as happy and gay as a jaybird’s laughter. Soon her laughter joined his. Twining together like a song, they laughter their joy of being aunt and uncle together. He set her down on the ground, putting his hands lightly on her hips. Her slim arms rest on his. Their eyes met fiercely. “She really is with a child?” he asked, unable to stop smiling. “Of coarse!” “And you are not telling me a lie, Beth, to make me agree to this wedding.” “I do not need to lie to you, to make you agree,” she laughed, “so nay.” She shook her head, grinning a grin that could only be of a to-be aunt, “no Gerard. I do not lie. I would never lie to you.” He let out another short laugh, and drew Bethany close to him again, hugging her tightly. Just hugging her, one arm round her small waist, the other lying against her back and his hand rest against her head, fingers twining through her hair. Her arms were round his neck, her head resting against his shoulder. The happiness the two shared could never be measured. No one could desturbe them then in that moment. The feeling they were sharing, cut them off from the world. A few moments later, Gerard whispered that they should go back, they should talk with Matthew Timbers.
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Brokenhearts
Rank 15 (On Angie's Level)
Beware, all ye who talk 2 me
Posts: 4,934
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Post by Brokenhearts on Jul 12, 2006 18:10:36 GMT -5
They walked back into the room, with broad grins on their faces, and their hands held to each others. The others could feel Gerard had come to a conclusion, and it was Bethany that had helped him reach it. Daisy looked at Bethany’s face. The younger girl was beaming around at everyone. Daisy had never seen her so happy about anything. Her whole face- her whole being had been lit up from the inside. It was a rare thing to see. Some how, Daisy suspected it would be a while before she saw it again. She suddenly saw her as should have when she first met her, as a woman, not a girl. Bethany lost the role of ‘girl’ a while ago. It had simpy taken Daisy a while to realise it. “Gerard, dear,” Daisy began, “I have talked it over between these two men, and Matthew’s intentions towards Ella appear to be of the best. But it is your decision that is final.” Gerard sat with his mother on one side, and Bethany on the other. He still had not let go of her hand, but his grip was much more relaxed, and calm. Matthew looked at the two hands and looked at Bethany, catching her eye, giving her a meaningful look. She replied with a look of mock horror and outrage, with the fingers of her other hand to her mouth. She frowned at him angrily, then started giggling silently, shaking her head. He just raised his eye brows at her, telling her that he believed something was going on between them. He looked to Gerard instead. She shook her head, looking towards Gerard too. She liked Matthew, they got on well. She she sincerely doubted that anything go on between her and Gerard- even if she wanted it too. Her heart said maybe. Her head said it would be a good idea, but it would not happen. There were many girls in the coleny, and they were bound to catch Gerard’s eye. “I know mother,” Gerard had been saying, “I grew up with Matthew as a childhood companion. I remember getting into trouble with him.” The two men looked at each other, and shared a smirk. Sharing also a found childhood memory. “I trust him with my sister. With body and heart.” He gave both men of the family meaningful looks. Though Mr Harold Timbers had said nothing, he rarely did (him being there was merely a formality, and had obviously acted as a great moral support for poor Matthew), even he seemed shaken by the penetrating gaze bestoned on them by Gerard. “I sincerely hope that I am not proved wrong by this consent.” Matthew sat dumb founded for a few moments. As though he had believed Gerard would tell him to goo home, and not bother them. That he would have to go on the run with Ella. Those moments past quickly and he got up, remembering his manners as did Gerard, Daisy, Bethany and Harold Timbers. He held out his hand to shake Gerard, then all formality dropped, and he pulled Gerard into a tight brother’s hug. Unable to believe it still. Daisy hugged and kissed Harold lightly, and accepted the excitable hug that Matthew drew her into. As Gerard shook hands with Harold, Bethany called up the stairs that a desision had been made: Ella would be married. The boys came whooping down the stairs, even James, followed by Ella smiling like a bride. She looked so happy, that Bethany wanted to cry for all the feelling built up inside of her. The family crowded together, talking loudly. Making arrangements, getting to know each other. Making a general racket. Bethany drew aside, into the kitchen where noise was dulled. She could still hear the excitable sounds, but it was in the back ground, like a buzz. She missed her old home even more just then. She never had a family with her father and mother. She had a family here, but she felt slightly pushed out. A marriage was a family thing, she did not feel she could impose on them at such a time. She had helped it happen, she had helped Ella get what she wished. Her freedom. Tiny tears dropped from her eyes like dripping water from a cracked cup. It slide down her face, leaving a bright trail behind her. “Beth,” called a voice, “Beth! Bethany!!” Matthew walked into the kitchen, looking round. He saw her leaning against the wall beside the fire stove. She quickly whiped away her tears and walked into the of the door way. “Hello Matt,” she greeted him, warmly, accepting the hug he put round her. He practically squashed the air from her lungs. When he let her go, he pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I owe this… this all! All that’s happening to me! To the two of us! Me and Ella! I own this to you. I know I do.” She shrugged, feeling Matthew’s hands staying on her arms. It was as though he was afraid she’ll run away. “I propted, that was all.” “You did more than that.” He gave her a sly smile. “You have away with words, Bethany,” he told her, “a gift. You can persuade Gerard to do anything. Anyone to do anything.” “I just explain how much you two are in love. I probably didn’t even get it right.” “Love is too bigger topic for anyone to explain,” sighed Matthew, looking away. Then he looked to her again. “Gerard is in love with you though.” She shook her head immediately, denying it. “He is,” he insisted, “you cannot deny facts, Beth. He is. He listens to you, so he should, you are clever. But it is more than that.” Bethany sighed, shaing her heads, not believeing him. Matthew chuckled to himself. He pulled her into a hug again. “I am thankful you are Ella’s sister. I am thankful you care about her happiness.” “Just don’t you go throwing it back in my face, mr. Timbers,” she warned, “I would hate to see what would happen to your pretty face if you did.” The two friends chuckled gaily, and hurry back to the living area hearing his name being called by his beloved. He tried to persuade Bethany to come back with him, but she shook her head gracefully, and told him she would be along in a moment. Shemarely had to clear her head. He nodded, a softly worried expression crossed his face, and he joined the rest of his new family. Bethany walked round the table to the windowed door, and looked out at the stars. She loved the stars. They helped her think, and calmed her down. It also made her think that all she held dear to her could look out at the stars, just as she was doing. It was the one thing that could connect her to them. “Beautiful,” muttered a voice from the door way, “are they not?” She turned round, quickly, heart thumping hard. When she saw it was Gerard watching her, her hand flew to her heart, laughing at her own jumpyness. “Very,” she replied, turning back round, hand still on her heart, “they’re calming. They connect me to everyone…” “Because they can see the night sky too?” he wandered alloud, coming closer. “Yes,” she agreed, as she felt him put his hands on her shoulders, and lean to look out of the window too, “but also because they’s where our forefathers and mothers are… watching us.” “What about heaven?” “The stars are the peep holes from heaven,” she responded easily, “some are guardian angels, some are open peep holesfrom hear to the universe. Heaven is too bright for us to look into, that’s why we can see them…” she trailed off in thought remembering all she had lost, “as stars.” “Do you think father is up there?” he asked. “Yes,” she replied firmly, “he was watching us, when you made his daughter happy and proud to be related to you. When you made her the happyest person in the world.” “Think he approved?” She nodded. “I know he approved.” There was a comfortable quiet, as they watched the night sky twinkle above them. Alost teasing them. They smiled, hoping their past families liked what they saw. In them and what they did around them. “Would he have liked me?” whispered Bethany, not wanting to desturb the stillness that surrounded them. “Yes. I think he would have. I’m pretty sure he loikes you now. I think he’s glad you came to this family to help us.” “I’m glad…” There was another pause. Bethany interrupted it within moments of replying Geard’s answer. “Father Goodall?” she called in a hoarse stage whisper, “can you hear me? Good… I just wanted you to know I’m trying to help look after your family. I’m trying to be a big sister to your younger sons, a friend and guide to your daughter, a help to your wife and a friend to your ealdest son. Am I doing it? Am I helping? I love them so much, father Goodall, I don’t think they realise it. I’m glad they don’t, it means that my help happens, but is not noticed. That’s the best help, don’t you think?” Gerard chuckled, loving the way she tried to talk to his long gone father. He would have liked it. “I’m sorry if I’m not a help though. I do try. I try with all my heart, all my best. I just hope it’s good enough… it wasn’t for my other family…” her small voice trailed off. “Father Goodall? Will you help me? Be a better person? Help me look after the family that have helped me through my life? Help me try and fill the shoes that Ella will be leaving behind? I can’t replace her, but I’ll try to be a substitute. Please… help me! I ne-” she cut off, crying. Unable to take it any more. She had hidden how she truly felt about Ella leaving the house all day. Finally, her emotions could not take it any longer, and the tears came. Falling down her face like waterfalls. Starled by her shoulders abruptly shaking in his hands, he turned her round and pulled her into a tight embrace. He hushed her crying with soft coos, and hushes. Telling her it would be all right. Everything would be fine. He knew very well that the words had no effect on the sobbing woman in his arms, but he knew he had to help. He just was not sure how to go about it.
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Brokenhearts
Rank 15 (On Angie's Level)
Beware, all ye who talk 2 me
Posts: 4,934
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Post by Brokenhearts on Jul 12, 2006 18:11:08 GMT -5
Two months later, Bethany had finally turned seventeen (though she refused too have anyone made a big deal of it) and the arrangements for the marriage were well under way. Ella and Matthew were in a bubble of untouchable happiness.They could not stop smiling. While Matthew could not keep his mind on business, Ella kept burning the food, or thinking and humming to herself. It warmed the hearts of people around them. Bethany was so glad to see her in such high spirits. When the spoke at night, Ella could not keep thread of a convosation, and Bethany found her self repeating sentances for Ella may times over. She too joined in with the festivities, but the fact that her sister and compainion was leaving her to take her place hung over her head and weighed her down. She often went for long walks into the forest. Mostly very alone, others with James as they discussed books. Or else to sit in each other company. Ryan and Fredrick and Ryan came with her, to play hid and seek, and get a real feel of the stories Bethany told them. They began to feel more comfortable in the forest, and it was no longer a place of mystery and terror to them. Gerard only went with her occasionally. The feeling in his stomach and chest when she was near grew and grew till it was almost un bareable. She seemed to be better when she went alone. He smiled to himself as she would come back, sometime soacked because she went swimming, other just because she was at peace with herself again. Bethany herself hardly ever spent her time in the forests alone. She enjoyed the company of Black Lynx quite often, and a female Native- Bringing Flowers. Bringing Flowers was Black Lynx’s cousin and friend, through the wedding process and beyond Bringing Flowers became Bethany’s friend too. The pair taught the white girl their language as much as they could. Her pronounciation was surprisingly good, and her grasp and understanding of the language structure amazed them. She picked it up quickly. She would sit and listen to the cousins argue for hours, always making her laugh. They were very animated and fun to be with. Their endless chatter was good to hear for Bethany. Their stories of life in general to their religious teachings intriged Bethany no ends. She was paitiant listener and learner, the two did not mind just telling her what ever they could. Their medicine man encouraged it. Though he never told them why. The wedding was a huge sucess. Bethany was asked to be the bride’s maid to Ella, and was given a special dress for the day. She stayed for as long as she could bare. Then towards the end, she got up and kissed Ella on both cheeks, telling her that she would see her before she went to Matthew’s house for the first time (by then Matthew had found out that Ella was pregnant too, so there was no fear of a massive shock for him that night). She did the same to Matthew, wishing him all the best. Ella got up and followed her to the door, her emotional face portaying her worry for the younger woman. “What is wrong?” she asked her, catching hold of her sisters hands. Bethany looked at her, smiling, shaking her head. “Nothing,” she replied, shrugging, “I just do not like large gatherings. It makes me light headed. I’ll be back.” “Promise me, Bethany,” she begged, “I can’t face this new life with out you… being there for me.” Bethany looked at her properly. “I’m afraid. Happy beyond recognition, but afraid.” Bethany put a hand on the side of Ella’s face, and pushed the tears that were sliding down her face away from her cheeks, shaking her head. She murmured that she should not cry. Then she hugged her tightly, telling her that it would be fine. “I am here for you, sister,” she reassured her, “I always will be. You are not alone. Remember that.” “I will.” Bethany kissed her cheek, and walked out into the night to sit and be alone with her thoughts. She took off her shoes as she reached the boarder of the forest. She looked up at it, and smiled feeling safe. She stepped into the forest, and breathed in the sents of the forest at night. A gentle, content smile graced her face, as she closed her eyes and allowed her feet to take her where they willed. She walked untill her feet became tired, and pricked with contents from the forest floor. She sat with her back against a tall, old, sturdy tree. She rought her feet close to herself, and picked out what had became embedded into the tough skin. She heard rustling leaves, and still she was calm, recognising the steps of Black Lynx coming to check who had walked into his domain. She heard them stop, and she smiled thinking of how he would see her in her soft pink dress, cross legged on the gorund, bare footed. “Beth?” he asked. His voice reminded her strangely of the forest she was in. She couldn’t describe it, but the spirits of the forest resounded through it. “Yes, Black Lynx?” He squatted in front of her, looking into her firey autumn eyes. She smiled lightly, seeing his friendly familliar face. He was the same age as Gerard, possibly a year older or younger. “It is you,” he said, coming to sit next to her, putting his dagger back into his waist band. “Who else would it be?” “I dunno, there has been speak of a lone she wolf in these parts. They’re dangerous alone, they’re usually too rebelious for their pack and they run away or are turned out… or she’s wounded.” He gave her a side ways look. “Perhaps it was a mixture of all three.” He smiled to himself hearng her chuckle. “Maybe I’ve already found her.” “Must you always speak in riddles?” she questioned. He shrugged, and looked skywards. “They do not always been a litteral she wolf.” “Am I a she wolf?” “Very much so… as tells your name.” “Bethany?!” He shook his head, and spoke no more to her. She did not push the subject. She would find out in due coarse. Black Lynx did not like to keep things hidden, they always came out into the open with those he trusted sooner or later. She knew he trusted her, his cousin had told her enough times. She felt very flattered to be trusted by either Native, they could as well have though her to be any other white person wanting to take their lands. But they looked after her and treated her as their own. “You should go back,” muttered Bethany to Black Lynx in his own language, “would White Bear not worry about you?” Black Lynx sighed. “The old man is a worrier, he fusses and complains much too much.” Bethany gasp, and turned and hit Black Lynx’s cheek. She had emense respect for the medicine man White Bear. He looked after her when ever they met, which was not often. She took an insult towards him as an insult towards herself. “He loves you Black Lynx,” she scowlded Black Lynx as he looked at her with his hand to his cheek, “that is why he worries. Never doubt that.” She sighed and shook her head, looking away. “I miss that.” “Gerard Goodall loves you, does he not?” “It is not the same as an elder’s love and affection. That is special.” She sighed heavily, and gazed at the floor, missing her dead grandfather (her mother’s father) and her grandmother (her father’s mother). Both had died on the same night. “Yes,” agreed Black Lynx, “a lover’s love is very different.” He stood and made to leave. She grabbed his ankle, forcing him to look to her again. “What do you mean?” she asked, the shock of hearing her friend utter such words shocked her back into english. He chuckled in his throat. “Is Gerard not your lover?” he asked, converting the convosation back to his mother tongue. He frowned as she shook her head, looking confused and worried. “He never has been.” “Really?” She nodded with a great amount of energy. He bent down to her leavel. “In that case, do not take offence.” He leaned forwards on his shakles, and pressed his mouth to her, then fled into the night before she could call out to him to come back, or ask for an explaination. He did not want to explain himself to her. He knew White Bear would know of what had taken place, he just hoped he did not disaprove of what Black Lynx wanted more than anything. Bethany pressed her fingers to her lips. A smile fluttered across her face and her heart. She had always cared for Black Lynx, and would continue loving him. She just was not sure how far that love for him went. She got up, and ran through the forest to reach the coleny as fast as she could. She promised Ella she would be there for her before she left the hall for her new life with Matthew, and she intended to keep that promise. She ran so fast, her feet barely seemed to touch the ground. She seemed to be flying just above the ground, skimming the roughage. The sensation stopped as she reached the eadge of the coleny, and she slipped her shoes back on, and she hurried to the hall. That party was slowly dispersing, and the families were saying good bye to most of the guests. Ella and Matthew were still seated at the front, talking in low voices to each other. Bethany waved her fingers to show she was back, and pointed at fighting Fredrick and Ryan, saying she’d be with them if she was wanted. Ella nodded in reply, and went back to talking to Matthew. “Ryan,” she began, her voice warning them that they were in trouble, “Fredrick…” “He started it!” they proclaimed in unison, pointing at each other, arms length away from each other. “No!” protested Ryan, indignantly, “you hit me first!” “You hit me first!” snapped Fredrick in return. “No-” “Enough!” called Bethany, putting herself bodily between them, holding them out away from each other. “It does not matter who started the arguement, it matters who ends it.” She smiled at them both. “The person who ends the arguement is always the bigger and better person. Always remember that. It is never a good thing to carry on a fight.” They looked at her, scrutinisingly. Watching her every facial movement. They would often do that, judging her to see if she believed her own words. Their faces split into similar grins of understanding and happiness, and they wrapped their arms round her waist, making her expell a great amoung of air in a huge gust and fall back onto her behind. Her two little broters laughed insanely as she sat up, shaking her hair away from her eyes, making a funny noise to them. They jumped to their feet and grabbed hold of an arm each, pulling at her to stand up. They began chanting for a story for her to tell them. She faked being emensely tired and worn out, colapsing back to the floor again, in a dead sleep. They giggling and pulled at her arms, calling out her name and their demands.
Months later and Ella began to show the sighs of baring a baby. When Bethany wasn’t with her brothers, trying to entertain Ryan and Fredrick with new games and stories, she was with Ella trying to help were with names, and make clothes. It was within the depths of winter, so Ella had to be kept out of the cold, and no one would let her out. She became very bored, and relied heavily on Bethany for company and fun while she stayed in her room. She may have been married and heavily pregnant but she kept the same fire and fun within her soul. Matthew would always laugh when we saw them giggling together about something or another. He would always greet Ella with a sweet kiss, and hug Bethany tightly, kissing her forehead or hair like her big brother. They had become that close, and he was very protective over her. The whole of the Timber family had become very fond of Bethany and enjoyed her company. Matthew’s sisters stopped talking to all those would insult Bethany, and defend her as best they could. They would always take Bethany out and talk in loud voices about the people would didn’t like her for trivial reasons. The only other brother was very shy of her. Being two years younger, he found Bethany rather intimadating. How ever when he eventually started to talk to her, he found her intriging and funny to be with, with a sharp sense of humour. Mother Timber would always fuss that Bethany was much too thin, and try to fatten her up. To no avail. Bethany tried to explain that she had been thin ever since she could remember, and as much as should have remembered. That she enjoyed running and swimming, keeping her body lean and slim. Mother Timber would have none of it, and tried to get her to eat. Bethany liked Mother Timber, and liked her food and company. It was often that Mother Timber would join Ella and Bethany when they spent time together. More often than not, both the girls invited Mother Timber to join them (she was very reluctant to, as she knew and could see how close they were). The three females had alot of fun together, gossiping, talking, making things for the new baby soon to come. The only person who did not like her was Father Timber, Harold Timber. He had a serious mistrust for her, and refused to talk to her. He barely looked at her. He never expressed his dislike for her in words, but all knew and could tell. Mother Timber, Mary Timber, would often try to get him to come round. But he would deny it, and move on from the subject. It was not just Harold Timber that did not like Bethany. Several girls had fallen for Gerard Goodall. For his good looks, his kindly ways, his polite kind voice- him in general. Though not really for him as a person. He, however, had eyes for none of them. He never noticed the attention he got from the women around him. He would always souught out Bethany to spend time with. They understood each other on an emotion, inlectuatal… close level. The women and girls didn’t see it like that. They saw Bethany as an intruder on their patch. He was a very popular choice for many families as he came from a good back ground, good father and mother, hard working and polite. Many parents would have wanted him for a son-in-law. Bethany was very aware of what many girls had said about her and to her. She took no notice. She’s laugh and toss her hair over her shoulders, laughing at them. She still did not believe that Gerard had feelings for her beyond friendship. Partly she did not notice, and partly she did not want him to. Her feelings had grown for another. As the months had passed them by, Black Lynx and Bethany had become closer and closer. It had not just been one single kiss they had shared, there had been many other after Ella’s wedding. Bringing Flowers still had no idea, but they could tell she suspected. Many times she had cauught them muttering to each other and holding hands. She just suspected. She in fact seemed to be rather pleased with the development.
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